JESUS AND ME MAKES THREE

THE TRIAL AND THE TRAP

THE PLACE AND TIME:

Jesus had been in the Mount of Olives which was his normal place of solitude and prayer. It was normal for Jesus to start early in the morning in prayer for Jesus was always in prayer. Jesus enters into the temple to teach to all who are there and to all who will come and listen.

Jesus enters into the temple to teach to all who are there and to all who will come and listen.

Picture in your mind the humble position Jesus takes as he comes in and “sits” on the dirty floor to teach.

2. THE MOOD:

You have to understand that this is Jesus teaching in the temple now so the crowd is hearing a style of teaching like they have never heard before.

The overall mood in the room had to have shifted when the “Scribes and Pharisees” enter into the room bringing not only a woman but an accusation with them. Notice the undertones as they address Jesus; Vs. 4. “Master” this woman was taken in adultery. They were not earnestly addressing him as their master. In the Greek “Master” means teacher (didasko).

The religious leaders now attempt to trap Jesus. They have not only announced the sin for all to hear, but now here in Vs.5 They remind everybody about the law that Moses taught as well as the punishment that came along with it “death”.

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Deuteronomy 22:22–24 KJV 1900

22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. 23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

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Lev 20:10

Leviticus 20:10 KJV 1900

10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

3. THE TRAP:

The pharisees ask Jesus the question; “but what sayest thou?” In other words, “Jesus what are you going to say needs to be done with this woman and her crime?”

Keeping in mind his posture, Vs.6 tells us that Jesus bent over and with his finger wrote on the ground. Remember he was sitting while he was teaching, but at some point stood up but is now again bending down to write into the dirt.

The religious leaders continued to press the question waiting on Jesus to answer, and hoping he would answer incorrectly. Notice his posture now. Vs.7 “he lifted himself up and said;” “He that is without sin among you cast the first stone.

Jesus was basically saying to them “Ok, let the trial and punishment begin, so if any of you who stand to judge her are without sin, start stoning her according to the law.

Now Vs.8 I believe is the turning point in the trap. Notice Jesus’ posture again. He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Now this is just my thought on the situation but I believe Jesus, who knew the names of all of the accusers , was possibly writing their names in the dirt. ( Remember when you and I were in school and the teacher would write the names on the chalk board of everyone who was bad that day, and you could not go to recess?)

Either through the conviction of the words that Jesus spoke, or maybe by seeing their names written in dirt, they all departed from inside of the temple.

Jesus

4. THE PARDON:

In Vs.10 Jesus again shows his mercy and grace by pardoning the woman and saying to her “go, and sin no more.”

THE PHARISEES BATTLE THE LIGHT

TF

THE PLACE AND TIME:

The location and the tactics of the religious leaders now change. Jesus exits the temple and goes outside where the religious leaders are waiting for him and they have new plan to attack him with. Vs.20 tells us that Jesus is outside of the temple near the treasury, where it would be custom for women to be gathered.

Vs.12 Jesus opens immediately with one of the “I AM” statements:

John 8:12

John 8:12 KJV 1900

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Pharisees now try to use this “I AM” statement against him.

Jesus responds by bearing record of himself in Vs.13

Jesus, knowing the trap that the Pharisees are trying to set, goes ahead and quotes Old Testament law. Vs.17. It is your law, your testimony.

J

Deuteronomy 19:15 KJV 1900

15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Jesus tells them in Vs.18 that he is a witness, and the father that sent him beareth witness, so there is your two witnesses.

The religious leaders, not understand Jesus, nor who the father was, ask Jesus, “Where is your father?”

Then Jesus makes one of the truest, but most tragic statements any of us could ever hear; “Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Matthew 11:27 KJV 1900

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.